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PESTICIDE FORMULATIONS

Applying Pesticides Correctly-EPA

Core Manual-Unit 3 (formulations)

04/18/232

PESTICIDE FORMULATIONS

Pesticides are usually formulated prior to use– Consist of:

• Active ingredient

• Inert ingredient

– Make it safer, more effective, easier to measure, mix, apply, convenient to handle

04/18/233

PESTICIDE FORMULATIONS

Manufactured as technical grade then formulated

Formulation is the form sold for use

Sold as a brand name

04/18/234

LIQUID FORMULATIONS

Consists of:– Active ingredient (AI) insoluble in water– Solvent

• Polar - usually poor (acetone & alcohols)

• Nonpolar - usually good (xylene & kerosene)

EMULSIFIABLE CONCENTRATES (EC or E)

04/18/235

EMULSIFIABLE CONCENTRATES (Con't)

Emulsifiers– Allow the formulation to be mixed with water to form an emulsion

(oil in water)

Each gallon of EC may contain 25 to 75% AI (2 to 8 lbs) Used under a wide range of conditions

04/18/236

EMULSIFIABLE CONCENTRATES (Con't)

Advantages– Easy to handle, transport & store– Little agitation required– Not abrasive– Will not plug screens or nozzles– Little visible residue on treated surfaces

04/18/237

EMULSIFIABLE CONCENTRATES (Con't)

Disadvantages– Easy to over or under dose– May cause unwanted harm to plants– Easily absorbed through skin– Cause rubber & plastic to deteriorate– Harm painted surfaces– Flammable– Corrosive

04/18/238

LIQUID FORMULATIONSSOLUTIONS

Dissolve readily in a liquid solvent such as water or petroleum-based solvent

Will not settle out or separateContain AI, solvent and one or more

other ingredientsUsed in most sprayers, indoors or

outdoors

04/18/239

SOLUTIONS (Con't) READY-TO-USE (RTU)

Contain correct amount of solventNo further dilution requiredUsually contain small amounts of AI

(1% or less)

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SOLUTIONS (Con't) CONCENTRATE SOLUTIONS (C or LC)

Concentrates that require dilution with solventSolvent is occasionally water, more often it is

petroleum-basedSome uses of solutions

– Structural & institutional pest control– Household pests– Livestock & poultry pests– Space sprays in barns and warehouses– Tree pests– Mosquito control

04/18/2311

SOLUTIONS (Con't) CONCENTRATE SOLUTIONS (C or LC)

Advantages– No agitation required

Disadvantages– Limited number of formulations available

04/18/2312

LIQUID FORMULATIONSULTRA-LOW-VOLUME (ULV)

Approach 100% AIUse as is or with small amounts of water

(1/2 gal or less)Used mostly in outdoor applications

– Agricultural– Forestry– Ornamental– Mosquito

04/18/2313

ULTRA-LOW-VOLUME (ULV) (Con't)

Advantages– Easy to handle, transport & store– Little agitation required– Not abrasive– Will not clog screens or nozzles– Little visible residue on treated surfaces

Disadvantages– High drift hazard– Need special application equipment– Solvents can deteriorate rubber and plastic

04/18/2314

LIQUID FORMULATIONS FLOWABLES (F or L)

Are insoluble solidsFinely ground AI mixed with a liquid

plus inert ingredient to form a suspension

Mixed with water for application

04/18/2315

FLOWABLES (F or L) (Con't)

Advantages– Seldom clog nozzles– Easy to handle and apply

Disadvantages– Require moderate agitation– May leave a visible residue– May separate– May cake in container or sprayer

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LIQUID FORMULATIONS AEROSOLS (A)

Contain one or more AI and a solventUsually contain a low percentage of AITwo types

– Ready-to-use– Smoke or fog generators

04/18/2317

AEROSOLS (A) (Con't) READY-TO-USE AEROSOLS

Small, self-contained unitsRelease pesticide when nozzle valve is

triggeredCommercial models hold 5 to 10 lbs and

are refillable

04/18/2318

AEROSOLS (A) (Con't) READY-TO-USE AEROSOLS (Con't)

Advantages– Ready to use– Easily stored– Convenient– Long shelf life

Disadvantages– Limited uses– Inhalation risk– Container is under pressure– Drift

04/18/2319

AEROSOLS (A) (Con't) SMOKE OR FOG GENERATORS

Machines break the liquid into a fine mist or fog

Use a rapidly whirling disk or heated surfaceUsed mainly for insect control in:

– Greenhouses

– Warehouses

– Outdoor control of mosquitoes and biting flies

04/18/2320

AEROSOLS (A) (Con't) SMOKE OR FOG GENERATORS

Advantages– Easy to fill large, enclosed spaces with pesticide

– Pesticide is not under pressure

Disadvantages– Requires specialized equipment

– Drift

– May require respiratory protection when applying

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LIQUID FORMULATIONSINVERT EMULSIONS

Water soluble pesticide dispersed in an oil carrier

Form large droplets which reduce drift Used in vegetation control along rights-of-ways Require special equipment, expensive, reduced

coverage

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DRY FORMULATIONS DUSTS (D)

Most are ready-to-useMost contain low amounts of AI (0.5 to 10%)Also contain a very fine dry inert carrier (talc,

chalk, clay etc.)Used to control pests:

– In ag applications– On livestock and pets– Seed treatment– Flowers & vegetable gardens

04/18/2323

DRY FORMULATIONS DUSTS (D) (con’t)

Advantages– No mixing– Can use where a spray may cause damage– Use simple equipment– Effective in hard-to-reach indoor areas

Disadvantages– Drift– May irritate skin, eyes, nose, throat– Poor adhesion to surfaces– Poor distribution of particles on surfaces

04/18/2324

DRY FORMULATIONS BAITS (B)

AI mixed with food or other pest attractantPests killed by eating pesticide contaminated

baitAI is usually low (<5%)Used inside to control:

– ants, roaches, flies, other insects, rodents

Used outside to control:– snails, slugs, insects, vertebrate pests

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DRY FORMULATIONS BAITS (B) (con’t)

Advantages– Ready to use– Only need to treat small area– Controls pests that move in and out of an

area

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DRY FORMULATIONS BAITS (B) (con’t)

Disadvantages– May be attractive to pets and children– May kill non-target animals– Pest may not eat bait– Dead pest may cause odor problems– Secondary poisoning of non-target animals– Can serve as pest food supply if AI becomes

ineffective

04/18/2327

DRY FORMULATIONS GRANULES (G)

Similar to dust formulations, larger & heavierMade from adsorptive materials

– Clay, corn cobs, walnut shells

AI coats outside of granule or is absorbedAI is usually low (1 to 20%)Usually applied to soil to control weeds,

nematodes, & insects

04/18/2328

DRY FORMULATIONS GRANULES (G) (con’t)

Advantages– Ready to use– Low drift hazard– Penetrate dense foliage– Usually requires simple application

equipment– *Usually the safest formulation to handle

04/18/2329

DRY FORMULATIONS GRANULES (G) (con’t)

Disadvantages– Will not stick to target (may move with

rain)– May need to incorporate into soil– May need moisture to activate

May be hazardous to birds

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DRY FORMULATIONS PELLETS (P or PS)

Similar to granular formulationsAll are same size and weightSome fumigants are pellets

– Aluminum phosphide

04/18/2331

DRY FORMULATIONS WETTABLE POWDERS

(WP or W) Dry, finely ground look like dusts

Usually mixed with waterApplied as a spray5 to 95% AIDo not dissolve in waterWill settle out unless constant agitation

is used

04/18/2332

DRY FORMULATIONS WETTABLE POWDERS (con’t)

Advantages– Easy to store, transport & handle– Less phytotoxic than EC– Less skin & eye absorption– Less odor– Method of applying insoluble pesticides as a

spray

04/18/2333

DRY FORMULATIONS WETTABLE POWDERS (con’t)

Disadvantages– Inhalation hazard while mixing– Requires constant agitation– Often clog nozzles and screens– Abrasive– May be difficult to mix and measure– May leave white deposit on surfaces

04/18/2334

DRY FORMULATIONS SOLUBLE POWDERS (SP or WSP)

Look like WPRequire initial agitationDissolve easilyForm a true solution in waterAI ranges from 15 to 95%Have all advantages of WPInhalation hazard while mixing

04/18/2335

DRY FORMULATIONSWATER-DISPERSIBLE GRANULES (WDG) or DRY FLOWABLES (DF)

Are like WPAI is prepared as granule-sized particleMust be mixed with waterRequire constant agitationSame advantages & disadvantages as WPMore easily measured & mixed than WPCause less inhalation hazard than WP

04/18/2336

OTHER FORMULATIONS MICROENCAPSULATED PESTICIDES (M)

May be liquid or dry surrounded by plastic coating

Mixed with water & applied as a sprayCapsule slowly releases pesticideProvides a timed release of pesticide

04/18/2337

OTHER FORMULATIONS MICROENCAPSULATED PESTICIDES (M) (con’t)

Advantages– Increased applicator safety– Easy to mix, handle & apply– Timed release

Disadvantages– Require constant agitation– Bees take capsules back to hive

04/18/2338

OTHER FORMULATIONS FUMIGANTS

Form poisonous gas when appliedSome are liquid under pressure, change

to gas when releasedSome are liquid & change to gas when

exposed to airSome are solid & change to gas when

exposed to water or high humidity

04/18/2339

OTHER FORMULATIONS FUMIGANTS (con’t)

Advantages– Toxic to wide range of pests– Penetrate cracks, wood, soil, grain– Single treatment kills most pests

Disadvantages– Site must be enclosed or covered– Highly toxic– Require special safety & application equipment

04/18/2340

ADJUVANTS

Added to formulations to increase effectiveness

Include: surfactants, wetting agents, emulsifiers, spreaders, stickers, penetrants, safeners, etc.